Center for wire ropes



was 27, 1933. 3w GATES CENTER FOR WIRE ROPES Filed Nov. 2, 1928 INVENTOR flew/7am W Gmes ATTORNEY Patented June 27, 1933 UNITED STATES I-ATENT OFFICE BERNARD W. GATES, 0F PLEASANTVILLE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 PLYMOUTH CORDAGE COMPANY, OF PLYMOUTH,

SAGHUSETTS MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAS- CENTER FOR WIRE noPEs Application filed November 2, 1928. Serial No. 316,841.

In the manufacture of wire rope a suitable number of wire strands are twisted together around a center of fibrous substance, as twine or rope, constructed in the conventional way of twisted fibres of hemp, cotton, flax, jute, etc., and suitably intertwined. This fibrous center serves primarily as a cushion for the strands of the wire rope, and insures its pliability.

Inherently, in the formation of rope or twine the individual fibres, at different points in their length, possess well defined inequalities in thickness. That is to say, because of the very nature of rope or twine construction one will find, upon minute examination,

' that the diameter of the individual strands is not uniform throughout. At some points there is present a substantial uniformity of diameter. Then, at other points, due to the condition just explained, the diameter varies, thus presenting throughout the longitudinal extent of rope or twine certain high and low points, lumps or irregularities, and this unevenness in diameter characterizin itself in a single strand is obviously magnifie and increased in the case of a cord or rope which is comprised of a multiplicity of .strands. Moreover the twisted or convoluted strands of a finished fiber rope exhibit recesses which extend in spiral fashion between the contiguous strandsthe contour of the periphery is not uniform. Still further, conventional fiber rope is devoid of sufficient density, volume, solidity and uniformity.

Thus when fibrous material of this sort is employed as a center for wire rope, and it should be borne in mind that inactual use wire rope is subjected to every conceivable kind of longitudinal, lateral, and torsional strain, it will be seen that the engagement of the strands in respect to certain high points of the center and virtual non-engagement at the low points of the center will result in unbalanced friction. Portions of the strands will be cushioned, while intermediate portions thereof will not be cushioned, which means that the strain at certain portions of when some of the strands become so attenuated or distorted, or both, that they begin the unravelling process, resulting in wickers or breaks at the weakest point. Then the rope must be discarded, and this obtains despite the fact, as in oil drilling operations, that the major portion of the remainder of a rope, many thousand feet in length, is for all practical purposes intact.

I now proceed to describe my improvement and how, in accordance therewith, to manufacture a center which will positively overcome these disadvantages. Firstly, I have determined that the exterior surface of the center should preferably be uniformly smooth throughout its length. Secondly, I

have discovered that the substance of suchcenter should be of a fibrous nature to secure the desired pliability and cushion effect, in contradistinction to a metallic center. Thirdly, the substance of the center can conveniently be water resistant as well as capable of withstanding the action of oils and chemicals. Fourthly, the material of which the center is constructed should be of such consistency that it will readily conform to the strands and enter the spaces andinterstices therebetween, thereby insuring expeditious pre-setting of the strands with respect to the center, and uniformly supporting the strands and providing for even distribution of strain. Fifthly, the material should possess suificient density and hardness. A suitable material, for these purposes -is paper suitably twisted to produce rope or twine. It has a smooth periphery; it has the desired pliability and cushioning qualities; it can be made water-resistant and capable of withstanding the action of oils and chemicals; it supports and equalizes distribution of strain, setting; and is ideally dense and hard. All of these characteristics, in their unification, produce a wire rope center which is highly desirable.

Furthermore, I have discovered that it is not essential that the twine center be formed wholely of a single integral length of paper. I may construct the center with a core comprising multiple strands of paper yarns or and provides for ready preother stocks. Then again, I can utilize 'ute, hemp, wire, cotton, flax, sisal, Mamla, ava,

- or the like long vegetable fibre made into a cord or rope in the customary way, as a core. By contrast with this the paper yarns are madeof very short vegetable fibres, being fibres of wood, if the paper employed be made from wood as is customary. But in any of these instances it is of prime importance that the core be enclosed by a covering of paper and that the exterior surface of this covering be perfectly smooth-free from undulations of any kind.

In the accompanying drawing are illustrated a few of the embodiments which the invention may assume, Figure 1 being a transverse section of a wire rope having an integral paper center.

Figure 2 is a similar view wherein the center is provided with a core comprising multiple strands of paper twine.

Figure 3 is a similar view in which the core of the center is made of jute, hemp, or

. the like.

Figure 4 exhibits the adaptation of a'metallic core.

Figure 5 shows a portion of the twine center of Figure 1 as it appears just prior to the twisting of the metallic strands thereabout.

Figure 5 shows at similar stage the composite center of Figure 2, and serves equally for the composite center of Figure 3 at similar stage; and I Figure 6 is a perspective view of a piece of mm rope, the strands of which have'been broken, illustrating the condition of the center.

In Figure 1 the number 5 designates the strands of the wire rope. 6 is the twine center formed of suitably twisted paper. In Figure 2 the center comprises a core 7, formed of multiple strands of paper yarn 8 and a covering of paper 9. Figure 3 discloses another modification in the development of my invention, wherein a relatively large rope or cord 10 is provided with a paper covering 11. For certain specific uses this form may be utilized with a reasonable degree of satisfaction. Figure 4 illustrates a wire core 12 and a paper covering 13.

The spaces 18 on the outside between these multiple strands 8 or 10 are contlines. They consitiute hollows within an imaginary circumscribing circle, and are available for any suitable use in the making or operation of the rope. In Figures 2 and 3 the said body of covering paper 9 or 11 is shown as having been pressed into these contlines, a result which accompanies the high compressive effect of the closing of the wire strands 5 on all sides around the paper 9, 11, under the customary heavy tension in which these wire strands are put together in the making of the rope. At the same time the paper 9, 11, works into the inward facing contlines between and of the wire strands 5, becoming deformed exteriorly to a shape indicated approximately at 14 in Figure 6. In this shape it underlies the strands in continuous and form-fitting contact therewith. The making of the center with a core, as thus described, constitutes it a composite center in which diverse material or arrangements may introduce qualities supplementary to or complementary to those of the bodyof paper 6, by using a part of that paper, as 9 or 11 or 13, and combining with it a selected other material or arrangement as 8, 10 and 12.

In carrying out my invention I take a strip of paper, preferably water-resistant paper, of uniform width and thickness, and by any suitable means twist it uniformly through a fixed die of given dimensions, thus producing a hard, compact, smooth and fiexi' ble center, as shown in Figure 5, having throughout a uniform, dense, solid body and diameter. Substantially, the same operation is followed in producing the modified centers shown in Figures 2 to 4:, inclusive, the only difference being that the cores and coverings of the centers are twisted together in one operation; but it will be noted that in each form of my invention the exterior surface of the center is invariably smooth and free from lumps or irregularities which characterize the old type of rope or cord centers.

If desired, the paper from which my center is constructed may be watermarked, printed or colored, or the surface of the center itself may be colored or printed, for the purposes of identification. The same idea may be carried out with respect to the individual strands of the multiple ply core.

It has been found that the wire rope centers herein described are far superior to the ordinary type heretofore employed, and that, after outwearing such, they are still in excellent condition.

It should be understood that in its broader aspects my invention comprises not only the specific means described, but equivalent means for obtaining the desired result. By way of example, I have hereinbefore stated that I prefer water-resistant paper. As a matter of fact, I may use any kind of paper specifically qualified for the particular use, and waterproof it in any suitable manner. Or, I may not desire to use water-resistant paper at all. I do not wish to be limited or confined in any way to the specific details, and desire to reserve the right to eifect such modifications and alterations as may come fairly within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A wire rope comprising wire strands and a supporting center; the portion of said center adjacent to the wire strands being of paper; and there being within this paper a core having a plurality of elements twisted together center adjacent to the wire strands being of paper; and there being within this paper a core having a plurality of elements twisted together and having contlines, over which contlines the said paper is twisted; the said core which has the contlines being of long vegetable fibre, whereby the center as a whole is composite of short and long fibres.

Signed a Pleasantville, in the county of Westchester, New York, this 29th day of October, 1928.

BERNARD W. GATES. 

